Suspended skirting for below dwelling,

ABSTRACT

A generally U-shaped channel is supported from the underside of a mobile home and is spaced directly beneath the vertical walls of the home and slightly above the ground level to provide a lower channel. A similarly shaped channel configuration is formed by preshaped sections which are attached to the lower edge of the vertical walls and spacially above the U-shaped channel to form an upper channel. A plurality of preformed skirting panels are positioned between the spaced upper and lower channels with edge portions of the skirting panels located in the channels. The panels are fastened to the channels to provide a suspended, selfsupporting skirting for below a dwelling.

Related US. Application Data O United States Patent 1 t [111 Struben Y Dec. 4, 1973 [54] SUSPENDED SKIRTTNG FOR BELOW 3,216,741 11/1965 Newin et al 52/D1G. 3 DWELLING 3,500,600 3/1970 Bagley 52/573 X 3,562,983 2/1971 Rector 52/DlG. 3 [75] Inventor: Francis L. Struben, Whitehall, Md.

[7 3] Assignee: Silver Top Manufacturing Company, Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr.

Inc., Baltimore, Md. AttorneyWa1ter G. Finch [22] Filed: July 15,1972

21 Appl. No.: 269,055 [57] ABSTRACT A generally U-shaped channel is supported from the underside of a mobile home and is spaced directly be neath the vertical walls of the home and slightly above the ground level'to provide a lower channel. A similarly shaped channel configuration is formed by preshaped sections which are attached to the lower edge of the vertical wallsand spacially above the U-shaped channel to form an upper channel. A plurality of preformed Skirting panels are positioned between the spaced upper and lower channels with edge portions of the skirting panels located in the channels. The panels are fastened to the channels to provide a suspended, self-supporting skirting for below a dwelling.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Mt ta t 0a an PATENTEDUEC- 4mm 3.775.917

SHEET 1 BF 3 ENU l HI l I N VENTOR FRANG/S L. .STRUBE/V ZJMA ATTORNEY PMENTED 41975 sum a nr 5 SUSPENDED SKIRTING FOR BELOW DWELLING, This invention relates generally to building structure,

and more particularly it pertains to skirting for enclosing the crawl space beneath dwellings, especially those of the house trailer type. This patent applicationis a continuation of US. Pat. application Ser. No. 58,276, filed by Applicant on July 27, 1970 for Suspended Skirting For Below Dwelling", and now abandoned.

Numerous types of dwellings, particularly those of the house trailer type, are positioned normally above ground level and thereby leave a considerable open crawl space between the underside thereof and the ground. It is desirable to enclose this crawl space with an attractive and serviceable skirting which is rattle free and easy to install. v I

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a skirting for dwellings which is supported entirely by the dwelling.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a skirting for dwellings which is easy to install and is free from rattles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a skirting arrangement-for a dwelling wherein the skirting is supported by an adjustable support suspended from the underside of the dwelling.

Another object of this invention is to provide a skirting arrangement for a dwelling wherein sections of the skirting are supported at opposite edges thereof within supports suspending from the dwelling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a skirting arrangement for a dwelling wherein bottom edges of skirting panels can be modified to accommodate nonparallel openings with respect to the slope of the ground.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a skirting arrangement for a dwelling wherein skirting panels are individually and easily removable to permit access to the underside of the dwelling for various needs such as connecting or servicingfacilities for the dwelling.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the following detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a house trailer having skirting embodying features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 of assembled sections of a skirting;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with parts broken away of an assembled skirting and supports therefor;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of comer features of the assembled skirting;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an adjustable support suspended from the underside of the dwelling with skirting assembled therewith; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 of features for adjusting the support.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a dwelling 10, such as a house trailer, has skirting 12 formed around the base f thereof. The underside of the dwelling isnormally positioned some distance from ground level to form a crawl space therebetween. It is most desirable to em close this crawl space with a decorative and serviceable covering such as the skirting 1 2.

In order to support the skirting 12, a sturdy means is required. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the sturdy means includes an assembly of an upper channel 14. A

plurality of fasteners 16 are usedto fasten apreformed longitudinal member 18 to the lower longitudinal edges of the dwelling 10. An ideal spacing betweenth'efasteners I6 is two feet. The member 18 is formed with an upper flange 20, a web 22 and a lower flange 24 wherein the web extends between and is formed inte grally with the upper and lower flanges. A flanged lip 26 is formed along the other longitudinal edge of the upper flange 20.

A back plate 28 is positioned longitudinally behind the member 18 with the upper edge of the back plate being inserted into a longitudinal groove formed by the inner walls of the upper flange 20 and the flanged lip 26.The fasteners 16 are also inserted through openings formed in the back plate 28 to firmly secure sections of the member 18 and the back plate around the lower edge of the dwelling l0.

The back plate 28 is formed with a slight longitudinal break or bend 30 so that the portion of the plate belowthe bend is angled slightly outwardly from the vertical plane of the outer vertical walls of the dwelling 10 and toward the lower edge of the member 18. The bend 30 formed in the back plate 28 biases the skirting 12 into the flange 24 of the member 18 so that the skirting is mounted firmly in place thereby precluding the possible rattling of the skirting in the mounted position.

It is noted that the member 18 and the back plate 38 combine to form the assembly of the upper channel 14. As further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the support means further includes a lower channel 32 which is generally of a U-shaped configuration with an inner or back leg 34 being formed integrally with a web 36 and with a forward leg. A plurality of drain holes 38 (FIG. 2) are formed in the web 36 of the lower channel 32 to prevent the accumulation of moisture in the base of the channel and around the lower edge of the skirting 12 which is positioned in the channel. 7

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the skirting 12 includes a plurality of panels 40 which are composedof a suitable metal, such as aluminum, and are pretreated in a protective and decorative manner. Each panel 40 includes outer flanges 42 formed. along opposite vertiter section of the panel 40. The webs 44 are tilted in the manufacture of the panels 40 to permit complementary nesting of the panels during stacking thereof for ultimate shipment.

In assembly of the panels 40 with the upper and lower channels 14 and 32, the upper edge of one panel 40 is pressed againstthe lower edge of the back plate 28 to deflect the plate slightly away from the lower edge of the member 18. This provides an opening between the lower edges of the plate 28 and the member 18 which is of a sufficient size to permit the upper edge of the panel 40 to be moved upwardly into the channel-like opening formed between the plate and the member.

The lower edge of the panel 40 is then moved inwardly against the upper, inner edge of the back side or leg 34 of the lower channel 32. The panel 40 is then moved downwardly until the lower edge of the panel rests on the web 36 of the channel 32. It is noted that the spacing between the channels 14 and 32 is sufficient to retain both the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the panel 40 after the panel has been nested into the last-mentioned position.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the panels 40 are assembled in a juxtaposed relation with the flanges 42 of adjacent panels overlapping. Every other panel 40 has its flanges 42 in engagement with the back leg 34 of the lower channel 32. The remaining panels 40 have their flanges 42 in overlapping engagement with the flanges of adjacent panels. Therefore the spacing between the webs 44 of adjacent panels 40 is substantially equal to the width of the flange 42.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, an upper fastener 46 is positioned within aligned openings formed in the overlapping flanges 42 of adjacent panels 40 and in the back plate 28 to fasten the panels to the back plate. Ideally, one of the fasteners 46 should be placed in every fifth panel 40. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a lower fastener 48 is positioned through openings in overlapping flanges 42 of adjacent panels 40 and through an aligned opening formed in the back leg 34 of the lower channel 32 to fasten the panels to the lower channel. The spacing between the fasteners 48should coincide with the spacing of the fasteners 46.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a right-angle clip 50 has one leg thereof secured to an adjacent portion of the back leg 34 of the lower channel 32 by fasteners 52. The remaining leg of the clip 50 extends perpendicularly from the back leg 34 of the channel 32.

The underside 54, or underfloor, of the dwelling has an I beam 56 positioned adjacent thereto which provides structural support for the dwelling. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a right-angle bracket 58 includes a first leg .60 and a second leg 62 formed at a right angle with each other. A spring clip 64 is fastened by a fastener 66 to the outer surface of the leg 60 of the bracket 58. The spring clip 64 is adapted to fit onto one flange of the I beam 56 so that the bracket 58 is sup ported in the position as illustrated.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a channeltype, diagonal brace 68 extends normally between the clip 50 (FIG. 5) and the bracket 58. The brace 68 is formed with a web '70 and side walls 72 (FIG. 6). Each of the side walls '72 of the brace 68 is formed integrally with an inwardly turned flange 74 so that the flanges of the side walls of the same brace extend toward each other but provide a space therebetween as a passageway into a major, confined opening of the brace.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the threaded end of a thumb screw 76 is inserted through an opening in the leg 62 of the bracket 58, through the space formed between the extended ends of the flanges 74 of the brace 68 and into the major opening of the brace. An inner, hexagonal locknut 78 is located within the major opening of the brace 68 and is threadly engaged by the threaded end of the thumbscrew 76. The outer dimensions of the hexagonal nut 78 is sufficient to permit the nut to be moved longitudinally through the major opening of the brace 68 but the nut cannot be rotated within the opening. Therefore, when the threaded end of the thumbscrew 76 is moved into the major opening of the brace 68 and into threaded engagement with the nut 78, the thumbscrew can be rotated to draw the nut into a position as illustrated in FIG. 6.

When the threaded end of the thumbscrew 76 engages the web 70 of the brace 68, the brace is releasably secured with the leg 62 of the bracket 58. An outer locknut 80, previously positioned on the thumbscrew 76, is moved into the position as illustrated in FIG. 6 to insure that the secured brace 68 is retained in this position.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lower end of the brace 68 is pivotally secured to the clip 50 by a nut and bolt assembly 82. This permits the brace 68 to be pivoted to various selected positions of varying distances from the lower edge of the vertical walls of the dwelling 10. For example, the thumbscrew 76 can be placed in the unsecuring position by insuring that the inner locknut 78 is free to move longitudinally within the major opening of the brace 68. The lower channel 32 can then be moved to any selected region within the limits of the length of the brace 68.

Since the purpose of the lower channel 32 is to support the lower edge of the skirting 12, it is naturally desirable to keep the channel in vertical alignment with the vertical walls of the dwelling 10. Further, since the spacing between the underside 54 of the dwelling 10 and the ground level varies from dwelling to dwelling, and may even vary from one portion of a dwelling to another portion of the same dwelling, the suspensionsupported, lower channel 32 must be adjustable to accommodate for the variation in this spacing. The assembly of the brace 68 with the clip 50 and the bracket 58 provides an adjustable means for supporting the lower channel 32 in a suspended fashion, that is without support at ground level, which facilitates desirable positioning of the channel.

The adjustable, suspended support means including the brace 68, the clip 50 and the bracket 58 could also be used to facilitate the use of different heights of panels 40 other than the heights illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the skirting 12 quite obviously changes direction at the corners of the dwelling 10. In order to dress and secure these corners in place, a corner angle 84 with doubled or folded edges 86 has its upper end inserted upwardly into the channel openings formed by the member 18 and the back plate 28 of the two, comer-joining channels 14 in a manner similar to the insertion of the upper edges of the panels 40 therein. The lower edge of the corner angle 84 is then lowered into the lower channel 32. A corner cap 88 is then positioned over the ends of the comer-joining channels 14 and is secured there by a fastener 90.

It is noted that the panels 40 of a particular dwelling 10 can be of different dimensions in the vertical direction to accommodate a varying spacing between the lower horizontal edge of the dwelling and a nonparallel, varying slope of the ground immediately below the horizontal edge of the dwelling. Further, the panels 40, as illustrated in FIG. 2, are individually and easily removable. This feature is facilitated by the overlapping of the flanges 42 of each panel 40 with the flanges of the adjacent panel. Therefore, every other panel 40 has its flanges 42 facing outwardly so that these panels can be removed initially. Then, the remaining panels 40 can be removed.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A skirting for a house trailer and the like, comprising, a first support means attachable directly to a house trailer, a second support means attachable in a suspended position to said house trailer, said first and second meansbeing spaced from each other and formed with opposing openings, a skirting means extending be tween and having opposite edges inserted into said spaced opposed openings of said first and second support means for support thereby, and means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means to vary the spacing between said means to accommodate variable sizes of skirting means and to position said second support means as closely as possible to an adjacent surface, such as ground level, so that said skirting means supported thereby provides a substantial enclosure, said means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means comprising a brace attached pivotaily at a first portion thereof to said second support means, and means attachable to a portion of the underside of said house trailer for movable and securable en gagement with selected portions of said brace spaced from said first portion thereof to permit said brace to be moved with said second support means in continuous alignment with said first support means to a selected position of desired spacing between said support means at any of which selected positions said brace can be secured from movement, said means for movable and securable engagement comprising a longitudinal confined opening formed in said brace, a locknut located in the confined openingand precluded from rotational movement therein, a bracket attached to the underside of said building, and a screw extending through said bracket and attached to said locknut for attaching said bracket to said brace whereby the loosening of said screw within said locknut permits said brace to move relative to said locknut, screw, and bracket and the tightening of said screw with said locknut secures said brace with said bracket in a selected position.

2. A skirting arrangement for a house trailer and the like, comprising, a first support means attachable directly to said house trailer, a second support means attachable in a suspended position to said house trailer, said first support means including a first preformed member attachable to an edge portion of a vertical wall of said house trailer, and a second preformed member having a portion thereof nested into an accommodating structure formed in the first preformed member so that said first and second preformed members form substantially opposed sidesand a base of a channel, said second preformed member being formed with a bend so that the portion of said preformed member below said bend is angled slightly outwardly from the vertical plane of the outer vertical wall of said house trailer and toward the lower edge of said first preformed member, said second preformed member being attachable to the edge portion of said house trailer with said first preformed member, said second support means including a generally U-shaped channel having a high back side and a relatively short front side formed integrally with a joining web, said first and second support means being spaced from each other and formed with opposing openings, a skirting means including a plurality of panels extending between and having opposite ends inserted into said spaced opposed openings of said first and second support means for support thereby, each said panel having a center section with an integral web on the opposite sides and running lengthwise thereof, the webs for each said center section of its respective panel extending divergently outwardly therefrom, with the webs of each panel terminating in integral coplanar flanges of adjacent panels overlapping, with every otherpanel having its flanges in engagement with the high back side of said channel of said second support means, and the remaining panels having their flanges in overlapping engagement with the flanges of adjacent panels so that the spacing between the webs of adjacent panels is susbstantially equal to the width of the flange, with the upper ends of said panels of said skirting means being positioned within the channelformed by said first and second preformed members, the biased portion of said second preformed member urging the upper ends of saidpanels of said skirting means into engagement with the adjacent channel side formed by said first preformed member to preclude rattling of said panels in the, assembled position, and means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means to vary the spacing between said first and second support means to accommodate variable sizes of panels of said skirting means and to position said second support means as closely as possible to an adjacent surface, such as ground level, sotbat said skirting means supported thereby provides a substantial enclosure, said means for adjusting relatively saidfirst and secondsupport means comprising a brace attached pivotally at a first portion to said second supportmeans, and means attachable to a portion of the underside of said house trailer for movable and securable engagement with selected portions of said brace spaced from said first portion thereof to permit said brace to be moved with said second support means in continuous alignment with saidfirst supportmeans to a selected position of desired spacing between said support means at any of which selected positions said brace can be secured from movement, said means for movable and securable engagement comprising a longitudinal confined opening formed in said brace, a locknut located in the confined opening and precluded from rotational movement therein, a bracket attached to the underside of said building, and a screw, extending through said bracket and attached to said locknut for attaching said bracket to said brace whereby the loosening of said screw within said locknut permits said brace to move relative to said locknut, screw and bracket and the tightening of said screw with said locknut secures said brace with said bracket in a selected position.

3. A skirting arrangement for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 2, wherein a corner angle mem ber is positioned over the edge portions of said skirting means which meet at corners of said house trailer, upper and lower ends of said member being positioned within the openings of said first and second support means, respectively, and a corner cap member positioned over the edge portions of the channelswhich meet at comers of said house trailer.

4. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said first support means comprises a first preformed member attachable to an edge portion of a vertical wall of said house trailer, and a second preformed member having a portion thereof nested into an accommodating structure formed in said first preformed member so that said first and second members form substantially opposed sides and a base of a channel, said second preformed member being attachable to the edge portion of said building with said first prein claim 1, wherein said second support means is a generally U-shaped channel having a high back side and a relatively short front side formed integrally with a joining web, said high back side providing a substantial backing support to which a lower portion of said skirting means can be attached.

6. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said skirting means comprises a plurality of preformed panels, each panel including a center section and side flanges joined integrally therewith by webs, said panels being assembled between said first and second support means with the flanges of adjacent panels overlapping and being secured to portions of 

1. A skirting for a house trailer and the like, comprising, a first support means attachable directly to a house trailer, a second support means attachable in a suspended position to said house trailer, said first and second means being spaced from each other and formed with opposing openings, a skirting means extending between and having opposite edges inserted into said spaced opposed openings of said first and second support means for support thereby, and means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means to vary the spacing between said means to accommodate variable sizes of skirting means and to position said second support means as closely as possible to an adjacent surface, such as ground level, so that said skirting means supported thereby provides a substantial enclosure, said means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means comprising a brace attached pivotally at a first portion thereof to said second support means, and means attachable to a portion of the underside of said house trailer for movable and securable engagement wiTh selected portions of said brace spaced from said first portion thereof to permit said brace to be moved with said second support means in continuous alignment with said first support means to a selected position of desired spacing between said support means at any of which selected positions said brace can be secured from movement, said means for movable and securable engagement comprising a longitudinal confined opening formed in said brace, a locknut located in the confined opening and precluded from rotational movement therein, a bracket attached to the underside of said building, and a screw extending through said bracket and attached to said locknut for attaching said bracket to said brace whereby the loosening of said screw within said locknut permits said brace to move relative to said locknut, screw, and bracket and the tightening of said screw with said locknut secures said brace with said bracket in a selected position.
 2. A skirting arrangement for a house trailer and the like, comprising, a first support means attachable directly to said house trailer, a second support means attachable in a suspended position to said house trailer, said first support means including a first preformed member attachable to an edge portion of a vertical wall of said house trailer, and a second preformed member having a portion thereof nested into an accommodating structure formed in the first preformed member so that said first and second preformed members form substantially opposed sides and a base of a channel, said second preformed member being formed with a bend so that the portion of said preformed member below said bend is angled slightly outwardly from the vertical plane of the outer vertical wall of said house trailer and toward the lower edge of said first preformed member, said second preformed member being attachable to the edge portion of said house trailer with said first preformed member, said second support means including a generally U-shaped channel having a high back side and a relatively short front side formed integrally with a joining web, said first and second support means being spaced from each other and formed with opposing openings, a skirting means including a plurality of panels extending between and having opposite ends inserted into said spaced opposed openings of said first and second support means for support thereby, each said panel having a center section with an integral web on the opposite sides and running lengthwise thereof, the webs for each said center section of its respective panel extending divergently outwardly therefrom, with the webs of each panel terminating in integral coplanar flanges of adjacent panels overlapping, with every other panel having its flanges in engagement with the high back side of said channel of said second support means, and the remaining panels having their flanges in overlapping engagement with the flanges of adjacent panels so that the spacing between the webs of adjacent panels is susbstantially equal to the width of the flange, with the upper ends of said panels of said skirting means being positioned within the channel formed by said first and second preformed members, the biased portion of said second preformed member urging the upper ends of said panels of said skirting means into engagement with the adjacent channel side formed by said first preformed member to preclude rattling of said panels in the assembled position, and means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means to vary the spacing between said first and second support means to accommodate variable sizes of panels of said skirting means and to position said second support means as closely as possible to an adjacent surface, such as ground level, so that said skirting means supported thereby provides a substantial enclosure, said means for adjusting relatively said first and second support means comprising a brace attached pivotally at a first portion to said second support means, and means attachable to a portion of the underside of saId house trailer for movable and securable engagement with selected portions of said brace spaced from said first portion thereof to permit said brace to be moved with said second support means in continuous alignment with said first support means to a selected position of de-sired spacing between said support means at any of which selected positions said brace can be secured from movement, said means for movable and securable engagement comprising a longitudinal confined opening formed in said brace, a locknut located in the confined opening and precluded from rotational movement therein, a bracket attached to the underside of said building, and a screw extending through said bracket and attached to said locknut for attaching said bracket to said brace whereby the loosening of said screw within said locknut permits said brace to move relative to said locknut, screw and bracket and the tightening of said screw with said locknut secures said brace with said bracket in a selected position.
 3. A skirting arrangement for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 2, wherein a corner angle member is positioned over the edge portions of said skirting means which meet at corners of said house trailer, upper and lower ends of said member being positioned within the openings of said first and second support means, respectively, and a corner cap member positioned over the edge portions of the channels which meet at corners of said house trailer.
 4. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said first support means comprises a first preformed member attachable to an edge portion of a vertical wall of said house trailer, and a second preformed member having a portion thereof nested into an accommodating structure formed in said first preformed member so that said first and second members form substantially opposed sides and a base of a channel, said second preformed member being attachable to the edge portion of said building with said first preformed member.
 5. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said second support means is a generally U-shaped channel having a high back side and a relatively short front side formed integrally with a joining web, said high back side providing a substantial backing support to which a lower portion of said skirting means can be attached.
 6. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein said skirting means comprises a plurality of preformed panels, each panel including a center section and side flanges joined integrally therewith by webs, said panels being assembled between said first and second support means with the flanges of adjacent panels overlapping and being secured to portions of said first and second support means.
 7. A skirting for a house trailer and the like as recited in claim 1, wherein a corner angle member is positioned over the edge portions of said skirting means which meet at corners of said building, upper and lower ends of said member being positioned within the openings of said first and second support means, respectively, and a corner cap member positioned over the edge portions of the channels which meet at corners of said building. 